Montreal, Quebec
Montreal hookups, from 5 à 7 to late night
Meet Montreal singles for a 5 à 7 that turns into something more fun. Join free and see who is nearby.
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In short
In Montreal, dating revolves around the 5 à 7, the after-work drink, with wine bars on the Plateau and in Mile End and hidden speakeasies in Old Montreal. On Joydate you can see who nearby wants something casual too, at no cost to join.
- First-drink areas: the Plateau and Mile End for wine bars, Old Montreal and the Latin Quarter for speakeasies, the Village for a relaxed, LGBTQ-friendly night.
- After the metro: 23 STM night bus routes in the 300s take over, and if you are riding alone between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., you can ask to get off between stops.
- Price: joining is free; a week of VIP is C$19.99, and the yearly plan works out at C$4.99 per week.
Montreal does nights out better than most cities, and casual dating fits right in: an early drink after work, a terrace on a cobblestone street, a festival that keeps the streets busy until late. On Joydate you can see who is up for a hookup or casual dating in Montreal and the towns around it, then pick a bar that suits you both.
A city built for first meets
Montreal's bars are spread across very different neighbourhoods, from the polished cocktail rooms of the Plateau to canal-side spots in Saint-Henri. In summer, festivals fill the Quartier des Spectacles and Parc Jean-Drapeau almost every week, which gives you an easy reason to meet. The guide below lists the bars to start from.
The Montreal dating reality
What makes dating in Montreal different
A few things locals take for granted, and visitors usually learn the hard way.
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The 5 à 7 is a ritual
Montreal has a name for after-work drinks, the 5 à 7, and plenty of wine bars built around it. It is the easiest first meet in the city.
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Festival season runs all summer
From May to September the city runs one festival after another, so there is almost always something on to suggest.
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Hidden bars are part of the fun
Some of the best spots hide behind a brick wall or an unmarked door with a glowing duck. Finding them together breaks the ice.
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Night buses after the metro
When the metro closes, 23 night bus routes in the 300s keep running, seven days a week.
Montreal at a glance
Worth knowing before your first meet in Montreal
- 6neighbourhoods in this guide, with bars to start from
- 23night bus routes running after the metro closes
- 7:30 p.m.when the Between Stops service starts for people travelling alone
Where Montreal goes out
Where to meet for a first drink in Montreal
Six parts of town, six different moods, and the bars locals and critics keep recommending.
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Cocktails and wine
The Plateau
Bars line Saint-Laurent and Mont-Royal, from polished cocktail rooms to wine bars that fill up after work.
Places to start
- Big in Japan: a speakeasy-style bar where the service is as good as the drinks
- Le Majestique: wine, cocktails and very good snacks
- Le Rouge Gorge: a huge wine list on Mont-Royal Avenue
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Craft beer and wine
Mile End
Relaxed and neighbourly, with a famous brewpub and wine bars made for long evenings.
Places to start
- Dieu du Ciel!: a microbrewery with around 20 house beers
- Buvette Chez Simone: wine by the glass, made for a 5 à 7 or a date night
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Hidden bars
Old Montreal
Cobblestones, stone walls and bars you only find if you know where to look.
Places to start
- The Coldroom: a speakeasy; follow the illuminated duck to the doorbell
- El Pequeño Bar: a tiny Cuban-inspired bar known for its mojitos
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Open and inclusive
The Village
Lively, open and LGBTQ-friendly, with a pedestrian street that turns into one long terrace in summer.
Places to start
- Renard: a friendly neighbourhood bar with a terrace on the street
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Readers' favourite
Latin Quarter
Close to Saint-Denis and full of students and night owls.
Places to start
- Turbo Haüs: a winner of Cult MTL's readers' poll for best bar
- Le 4e Mur: a 1920s-style speakeasy behind a secret brick wall
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Canal-side evenings
Saint-Henri
Former industrial streets by the Lachine Canal, now a favourite for a slower night out.
Places to start
- Bar de Courcelle: a top-three pick in Cult MTL's best-bar poll
Plan a first drink in Montreal
Bars from Eater Montreal's list of essential Montreal bars and Cult MTL's Best of MTL readers' poll. Bars change, so check before you go.
Picture the night
Montreal after dark, three ways
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The Plateau
Cocktails and wine
Saint-Laurent and Mont-Royal, from cocktail rooms to wine bars.
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Old Montreal
Hidden bars
Stone walls, cobblestones and doors you have to know about.
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Saint-Henri
Canal-side evenings
A slower night out by the Lachine Canal.
About Joydate
What does Joydate do, and why find a Montreal hookup online?
Joydate is a site for casual dating between adults: hookups, flirting and friends with benefits. A free profile shows you members around Montreal, and daily suggestions take age and distance into account.
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Know before the 5 à 7
What someone is open to is on their profile, so the first drink is about chemistry, not about finding out what they want.
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Discreet by design
Montreal members see the town you pick and your username, and nothing that leads to your door.
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Less time wasted
With VIP you can filter members by city, by distance and by what they are open to, so you skip the profiles that were never a fit.
Join free and meet Montreal members How Joydate works in Montreal
Before you go
First-meet tips for Montreal hookups
Five small things that make a first meet in Montreal easier.
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Start with a 5 à 7
An early drink keeps it light, and if it goes well the evening is still young.
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Pick a bar you can talk in
Speakeasies and wine bars beat a crowded club for a first conversation.
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Use the festivals
Jazz Fest at the end of June or Just for Laughs in July gives you an easy plan.
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Keep chatting on Joydate
If a match pushes for WhatsApp before you have met, Joydate warns you about it.
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Know your bus home
Check your night route, or ask the driver to let you off between stops if you ride alone in the evening.
What Joydate costs in Montreal
Your Classic profile is free in Montreal and stays that way. For unlimited messages you need VIP or VIP Plus; here they are in Canadian dollars, each total with its weekly price.
| Plan length | VIP | VIP Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | C$19.99 | C$22.99 |
| 1 month | C$51.39C$11.99 a week | C$59.96C$13.99 a week |
| 3 months | C$115.59C$8.99 a week | C$154.16C$11.99 a week |
| 6 months | C$179.74C$6.99 a week | C$231.17C$8.99 a week |
| 12 months | C$260.19C$4.99 a week | C$338.41C$6.49 a week |
Weekly, monthly, three-month and six-month plans carry on until you stop them; the twelve-month plan is paid in one go. See every plan in every currency.
Meeting safely in Montreal
- Somewhere public first. A bar from the list above is ideal, and nobody on Joydate sees more than your town.
- Late nights. After the metro closes, the STM runs 23 night bus routes, numbered in the 300s, every day of the week. From 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., anyone travelling alone can ask the driver to be let off between regular stops.
- Getting tested. In Quebec, STBBI tests are free with a Quebec health insurance card, though some places charge a small lab fee. CLSCs, sexual health clinics and family medicine clinics all offer testing; call Info-Santé 811 to find one near you. Some CLSCs offer anonymous HIV testing.
Hookups and dating in Montreal: your questions
Where can you find a hookup in Montreal?
You can find a hookup in Montreal on Joydate by making a free profile, browsing members in Montreal and the towns nearby, and suggesting a drink somewhere public, such as a wine bar on the Plateau or a speakeasy in Old Montreal.
Which Montreal neighbourhoods are best for a first drink?
The Plateau and Mile End are the easiest Montreal neighbourhoods for a first drink, with wine bars and a famous brewpub. Old Montreal and the Latin Quarter have hidden speakeasies, and the Village is relaxed and LGBTQ-friendly.
How much does Joydate cost in Montreal?
Joydate is free to join in Montreal. VIP starts at C$19.99 for a week, and the 12-month plan works out at C$4.99 a week. Compare every plan.
How do you get home late at night in Montreal?
Late at night in Montreal, the STM's 23 night bus routes, numbered in the 300s, take over when the metro closes. If you ride alone between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., you can ask to be let off between stops.
Where can you get tested for STIs in Montreal?
In Montreal you can get tested for STIs at a CLSC, a sexual health clinic or a family medicine clinic. Testing is free with a Quebec health insurance card, and Info-Santé 811 can point you to the closest place.
When is Montreal at its liveliest?
Montreal is liveliest from May to September, when one festival follows another: Jazz Fest from late June, Just for Laughs in July, and Osheaga and Fierté Montréal around the start of August.
More places to meet people
Your next Montreal night out starts here
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